“The number of highway accidents caused by inattention to the road because the driver was texting is astounding,” said Wyly, whose firm represents individuals injured in motor vehicle accidents. “The federal government is making a much-needed move to follow the lead of many states by banning texting-while-driving where it has jurisdiction. We at the Wyly Law Firm support the ban and the attention it draws to safe practices among commercial drivers.”

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced in late January that commercial truck and bus drivers who text while driving may be subject to civil or criminal penalties of up to $2,750.

Texas law prohibits bus drivers from using wireless communication devices with a minor on board if the bus is moving, prohibits anyone from using handheld wireless communication devices within a school crossing zone, and restricts all drivers younger than 18 from using wireless communication devices while operating a motor vehicle.

The Department of Transportation’s announcement of the new guidelines said that drivers take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds out of every 6 seconds while sending and receiving text messages. At 55 mph, this means the driver is traveling the length of a football field, including the end zones, without looking at the road. Drivers who text while driving are more than 20 times more likely than non-distracted drivers to be in a wreck, according to the latest research.

Nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted or inattentive driver, and more than 500,000 were injured, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“Unfortunately, we’ll never be able to ensure that every driver is paying proper attention to the road,” Wyly said. “But pressing forward with a public policy against specific dangerous activities is sometimes the best way to shape public opinion and individuals’ actions.”

About Wyly Law Firm

The Wyly Law Firm, P.C., based in Houston, is committed to representing people throughout Texas who have been hurt in a car, truck or motorcycle accident or who have suffered a construction or workplace injury. The firm handles cases in Houston and the surrounding communities, including Baytown, Harris County, Pasadena, Galveston and Beaumont. The firm also handles business law issues and disputes.

Attorney Brad T. Wyly, the founder of the firm, is a skilled negotiator and lawyer. Wyly has extensive experience in personal injury cases, including claims involving complex accidents, catastrophic injuries and wrongful deaths. He was named a Rising Star in Law & Politics magazine in 2005 and 2006.

To contact Wyly Law Firm, P.C., call 713.574.7034, or reach the firm through the online contact form at the firm’s Web site: http://www.wylylawfirm.com/.